Heroes of the New Day

What began as a simple journey has turned into so much more...

Dead Soldier List

What follows is a listing of the dead soldiers whose bodies y’all are traveling with. When available, details about rank, personal traits, battle record, and method of death have been included, usually with a note from the commanding officer. The numbers are the vague order you will be traveling in, based on the geographic proximity.

(Struck-through entries are bodies you’ve already delivered).

1. William McBride Waterdeep. Age 19. Male Human Crossbowman 1st class, 7th Waterdeep Volunteers. Successfully defended the eastern battlements against 3 assaults. Died in the 4th assault, by troll claw, as the troll climbed over the bodies of the dead orcs at the foot of the wall.Personal effects: harmonica (said to have been his grandfather’s), 1 unfinished letter to parents (talks about mix of excitement & fear, and how he’s eager to come home for City Day next month).Next of kin: Seamus & Annie McBride (parents), Natalie Mirtson (older sister)NOTE: “City Day” is Waterdeep’s biggest holiday (and also an Erathin holy day) celebrating the founding of the city. See the Waterdeep section for more.NOTE2: “Willie McBride” is stolen from the song “Green Fields of France”-
-2. Terren Beluth Verdant Fields, Dambrath. Age 24. Male Drow Swordsman 3rd class, 5th company, 2nd Legion of the Sun. Killed by fireball while charging an enemy line after advanced guard had fallen. The note is written in such a vague way that you can tell it was probably friendly fire that actually killed him… as if he impulsively charged in to avenge the deaths of the first wave when command had actually ordered a long-range tactical sorcerer strike. The battle he died at was called the “Fall of the 2nd Legion”, and scuttlebutt you’ve heard from rumors in Waterdeep is that it was the first battle in that “surge” that the Cormyrean reinforcements were racing north to stop. There are even rumors that the orcs had dragon(s) on their side in this battle, which surprised and overwhelmed the 2nd Legion, though these rumors can’t be confirmed.Personal effects: sword, journal. The journal has many very boring entries about carrying equipment, polishing swords, and serving as the “scrimmage side” in training for the 1st class soldiers. You get the sense that Terren wasn’t a very good soldier at all, though you also get the sense that he wanted to be. He talks a lot about his “duty to live up to my family’s calling”. The last entry is a very excited one, talking about how they’re going after a large force and hope to surprise them, since intelligence says that though there are a lot of them, they’re only skirmishers.Next of Kin: Ssussun Beluth, Solar Champion (brother), Yavia Greenmarrow, gardener (best friend)

3. Dezia Sanctus Academy of Solar Studies, Dambrath. Age 18. Female Minotaur Chaplain of Pelor, 1st company, 2nd Legion of the Sun. Killed by enemy acid attack. This note is also written in vague terms, but moreso (it seems) to disguise the nature of what actually caused the acid attack (which also happened during the Fall of the 2nd Legion). You get the distinct sense that this is “military intelligence” at work here, trying to control the flow of information about this battle.Personal Effects: Holy Book of the Sun (with personal notes throughout), partially-acid-melted golden holy symbol to Pelor.Next of Kin: Professor Attleby Merriweather, Department of Radiance, Academy of Solar Studies.-
-4. “Righteous Fist of Harmony” Monastery of Setting Sun, Radiant Embers tradition (SW Dambrath). Age 45. Female Human Specialist, Glare Unit. Killed in action. This note could not be any more vague. One might guess that the “Glare Unit” is some kind of special forces unit. This coffin appears heavier-duty than the others, reinforced against breakage and, apparently, specially sealed. Symbols of the sun are carved throughout the wood and metal that make up this coffin.Personal Effects: 4 necklaces of orc tusks, 1 set trollhide bracers, 1 scroll case.Next of Kin: Radiant Embers Grandmaster Sol, Monastery of Setting Sun

5. Enzo Cartwright Tavern of Sun & Moon, Northern Coventry. Age 19. Male Halfelf Pikeman, 3rd Company Infantry, 3rd Division, Coventry Regulars. Killed in action during charge on Orcblood Hill. -
-Personal Effects: deck of cards, Wheels of Progress novel (“The campaign against the undead”), letter from commanding officer…Mr. & Mrs Cartwright,Your son served beneath me in this ongoing war against the Orcish Hordes of Anarchy and Chaos, and I wanted to tell you how bravely he charged into battle with the rest of our men at the 3rd battle of Orc Hill. He valiantly slew several of the orcish savages before a hurtled axe brought him to his eternal rest. He fought as well as any nobleman I’ve seen, and his indentured upbringing disappeared in the valour he showed on the battlefield. The forces of Civilization managed to beat back the savages after 3 more charges, and the hill now belongs to the side of law, Erathis be praised. I thank you for the sacrifice your family made, and I hope that the knowledge of his valour will give you comfort in your time of loss.Yours in civility,T. Marshall Willingsworth III, General, 3rd Division -
-Next of Kin: Mr. & Mrs. Lars Cartwright, servants 2nd class, Tavern of Sun & Moon, Guest Mobility Unit.

6. Hiram Jax Jaxon, (central) Coventry. Age 28. Male Human 1st Lieutenant, Knight, 1st Elite Cavalry, 3rd Division, Coventry Nobles. Killed in action during 6th charge on Orcblood Hill.Personal Effects: locket w/ picture of blonde human girl, Coventry Academy school icons, book of military tactics by a Coventry professor, book ( Honor Among Warriors, by Titus Imperius), letter from commanding officer…Jonas, old boy,I had hoped to never have to write this letter to you. As you no doubt can see, Hiram fell in battle. He was one of the brightest boys I’d ever met, and he had a way with the Regulars that was uncanny. They looked up to him and actually seemed happy to take his orders. Truly a gifted leader. He died for the very men who looked up to him. We had tried several times to send the regulars to take a large force of entrenched orcs on a rocky hill, and time and again they failed. With the sixth charge, Jonas suddenly rode off with them as the rest of us managed the field from afar. His last words to me were something about battle and death making men equal, then he rode his horse off to lead the final charge. And Erathis be praised, he did it. They took the hill, but with heavy losses. Hiram died in single combat with the orc chieftain at the top of the hill, but the fact that he threw himself into that orc’s axe allowed the two Regulars who were with him to stab the chieftain through the throat. I have already commissioned several bards to sing tales of his bravery, and those two regulars were given the newly-created Hiram Jax Medal of Bravery for their efforts. I have included a letter from those two men, a human and a half-orc, though please do not let their simplicity and lack of culture diminish the memory of your boy. You know I loved Hiram like my own son, so I can only mourn his loss in solidarity with you from afar. Know that my thoughts are with you and Adriana. Be proud of your boy… he was the best of us.Yours in civility,T. Marshall Willingsworth III, General, 3rd Division [NOTE: This handwriting is much nicer than the handwriting of any other notes from the General, and you can safely assume that he wrote this one himself, while the others were likely written by aides.]

There is also another letter, written in much poorer handwriting on some of the General’s stationery…Mister and Missus Jax,My name is Commonus, and me and my battle brother Blunt-Tooth are the two guys what were with Hiram at the end. Blunty dont no written words, so he asked me to rite for both of us. I dont have enough educashun to say fancyness bout your son, but I wanted you to no that he truly cared for folks like me n Blunty. He was the kind of nobull we all wished we culd be. When he saw that us guys was using rusty swords we took from fallen orcs, Hiram made sure to get us new blades from his family factories. Guess thats your factories, axully. He even told us to call him Hiram and not Lootenent Jax, like we figurd we had to. Hiram used to read a book to us from some famous dragon guy what said all men is eeqwal in more n just battle and deth. That dragon guy sounds like a nice man like Hiram. Me and Blunty are sore upset that Hiram had to die, but we will remembur him as a truw hero. Also please thank the General for the extra slop we got and the shiny new medals.Commonus [There is also a sloppy mark that you can assume was from Blunt-tooth]Next of Kin: Jonas & Adriana Jax, parents. Jax Steel Products, Jaxon, Coventry.

========END OF CART 1 BODIES=========

7. Eritria Akanul Wainsborough Plantation, Eridu, (south-central) Coventry. Age 23. Female Shadar-Kai Long-Ranged Arcanist, 8th Company Casters, 3rd Division, Coventry Regulars. Killed in action covering retreat of 5th charge on Orcblood Hill. Personal Effects: Darkwood Wand, Raven religious icon, letter from commanding officer…Mr. & Mrs Akanul,Your daughter served beneath me in this ongoing war against the Orcish Hordes of Anarchy and Chaos, and I wanted to tell you how bravely she pelted the enemy with destructive magics as the rest of our men charged Orc Hill. Her arcane blasts felled many of the orcish savages before a gnoll’s arrow brought her to her eternal rest as she covered the retreat of her countrymen. She fought as well as any nobleman I’ve seen, and her indentured upbringing disappeared in the valour she showed on the battlefield. The forces of Civilization managed to beat back the savages after 3 more charges, and the hill now belongs to the side of law, Erathis be praised. I thank you for the sacrifice your family made, and I hope that the knowledge of his valour will give you comfort in your time of loss.Yours in civility,T. Marshall Willingsworth III, General, 3rd Division
Next of Kin: Rebekka Akanul, grandmother, Wainsborough Plantation, 1st servants’ quarters, Eridu

12. Pyrnia Bristiaborn Mt.Fallen Foreigners, Borovia. Age 26. Female genasi paladin of the Raven Queen, 7th phalanx, 4th division. Killed in combat with enemy cleric, slain by undead.
Personal Effects: longsword, letter from commanding officer…Honored Clerics of Death,It is with regret that I share the news that your warrior, Pyrnia, has met her Queen. Maybe a bird told you folks already… I’m not really sure how that works with your kind. But I can report that she died mightily in battle, going head-to-head with an ogre shaman who was raising up skeletons from fallen warriors. Some folks in the unit thought Pyrnia was kind of odd, always spending any pay on gems that she’d bring to the wizards unit. I realize now that she was having them enchanted, or somehow pouring her own fire essence into them. Again, that sort of thing is beyond my understanding. What I do know is that she charged straight at that shaman, leaving her unit behind, as she fell dead, surrounded by the wounded shaman and about 20 undead soldiers, her body exploded in a burst of fire that sent everyone within 30 feet to meet the Death Queen. I hope your church has a special blessing for combat suicides like Kord does, because this was truly the way to go out. We gathered up what we could of her body and things, though you’ll see there’s not much there. Hope it’s enough for whatever rituals you need to do.Yours in Battle,Gunnar Steelblade, 1st Lieutenant, 4th Division
Next of Kin: Clergy of Temple of Cremation, Mountain of Fallen Foreigners, Borovia.